Cable Guy

Lou Holtz Jr., Judd Apatow

Sujets

• Comedy
• Dráma
• Thriller

Informations

• Publié par: script-cinema
• Publié le: 01 octobre 1996
• Nombre de lectures: 86
• Licence : En savoir +
  Paternité, pas d'utilisation commerciale, partage des conditions initiales à l'identique
• Langue: English

Extrait

The Cable Guy

by Judd Apatow Based on a Screenplay by Lou Holtz Jr.

Shooting Script October 31, 1995 (White) Revised Pages November 13, 1995 (Blue) Revised Pages November 14, 1995 (Pink)

1 FULL FRAME - WHITE NOISE

Credits begin. The entire frame is filled with white noise within which one can make out thefaint image of a television program. Every few moments the channel changes, revealing a new ghostly image.

The camera pulls back very slowly. We reveal that this image is coming from a twenty seven inch television.

The camera pulls back some more and we see a man's hand enter frame holding a remote control. The hand changes channels frantically.

The camera pulls back into its final position and we see STEVEN BARTOWSKY, thirty years old, sitting on his couch. He is trying to find a channel with viewable reception. Unfortunately for him � his cable is not hooked up.

STEVE

(looks at watch) Jesus, where's the cable guy already?

END OF CREDIT SEQUENCE

1A INT. STEVEN'S APARTMENT - CONTINUOUS

It is a stylish old apartment. There are half unpacked boxes strewn about the floor. Steven has just moved in. The phone rings.

STEVEN

(into the phone) Hello.

2 NEWSROOM - CONTINUOUS

We see Steven's best friend RICK standing in the middle of a busy newsroom. He is a rough looking, cynical local news cameraman. In the background, hanging from the ceiling is a television set.

ON THE TV - An anchorman sits at his desk fixing his hair as he waits to go on the air. A graphic on the screen says "Sam Sweet Trial Update."

RICK

How's the move going?

3 INT. STEVEN'S APARTMENT - CONTINUOUS

Steven unpacks as they speak. The phone call intercuts between the two locations.

STEVEN

Horrible. The cable guy is missing in action. Apparently he's going to be here sometime between eight AM and my death.

RICK

You haven't called Robin have you? Please tell me you didn't call her.

STEVEN

(sarcastically) No, I'm giving her space. (beat) I can't believe she's doing this.

RICK

You never should have asked her to marry you. You're the mad smotherer.

STEVEN

All she had to do was say no. She didn't have to kick me out. I feel like Felix Unger.

RICK

You forced her to evaluate the relationship. If you didn't propose she would never have realized how unhappy she was.

STEVE

I don't want to talk about it. So what time are you going to come by?

RICK

I can't. I'm working double shifts the rest of the week.

STEVEN

It's my first night here. Don't do this to me.

RICK

The other camera guy pulled out his back. Besides, I spent the last two weeks with you on my couch. Isn't that enough?

STEVEN

Fine, fine.

RICK

One piece of advice. Slip the cable guy fifty bucks, he'll give you all the movie channels for free. Even the dirty ones.

STEVEN

I couldn't. I'm not good at that stuff. What if he says no? I'll feel like an idiot.

RICK

None of them say no, believe me. I'll talk to you later.

Steven hangs up, and waits.

DISSOLVE TO:

4 INT. STEVEN'S LIVING ROOM - LATER

Steven continues unpacking. He is very neat. He opens a box and finds a pictures of him with his ex-girlfriend. He looks at one sadly, considering whether or not to put it on display. He puts it back in the box.

4A EXT. STEVEN'S APARTMENT BUILDING - DAY

Establishing shot of a renovated apartment building built in the nineteen twenties. A moving truck pulls into a gated side garage.

5 INT. STEVEN'S APARTMENT - LATER

Movers deliver a small breakfast table and chairs. Steven directs them as to where to put them.

CLOSE UP OF CLOCK - 3:52 P.M.

6 INT. STEVEN'S APARTMENT - LATER

Steven puts a few feet of tin foil on his antenna to help the reception. He changes channels. Still nothing. He pulls it off frustrated.

7 INT. STEVEN'S LIVING ROOM - LATER

Many of the boxes are gone. Steven lies on the couch, staring at the ceiling, fidgeting. He is unable to fill his day without cable.

STEVEN

Where the hell is he?

8 INT. STEVEN'S APARTMENT - LATER

Steven paces back and forth across the room. He stares at his watch frequently.

CLOSE UP OF CLOCK - 5:12 P.M.

9 INT. STEVEN'S APARTMENT - LATER

Steven slowly eats a sandwich in his empty kitchen. He looks at the clock. It says five-thirty. He picks up the phone and dials. A machine picks up.

ROBIN (VO)

Hi, this is Robin. Leave a message. If you are trying to reach Steven he can now be reached at 555-3837.

Steven hangs up.

10 INT. STEVEN'S APARTMENT - SUNSET

Steven does sit ups. He looks at the clock.

CLOSE UP OF THE CLOCK - 6:48 P.M.

STEVEN

(to himself) Forget it. Idiots.

He gets up, and walks into the bathroom.

11 INT. BATHROOM - MOMENTS LATER

Steven gets undressed. He turns on the shower, adjusts the heat, then gets in. He tries to lose his tension by letting the hot water engulf him. He takes some shampoo, and lathers up his hair.

THE DOORBELL RINGS

STEVEN (annoyed) Oh great.

THE DOORBELL RINGS SEVERAL TIMES

Steven jumps out of the shower, soaking wet, throws on a bathrobe and runs to the door.

STEVEN

Don't leave! I'm here! I'm here!

12 INT. STEVEN'S LIVING ROOM - CONTINUOUS

Steven runs to the door.

CABLE GUY (OS)

Hello! Cable Guy!

Steven reaches the door, and looks through the peep-hole.

P.O.V. THROUGH THE PEEPHOLE

The CABLE GUY is walking away.

INT. STEVEN'S LIVING ROOM/HALLWAY - DAY

Steven opens the door and yells to the Cable Guy.

(Revised 11/14/95 - Pink)

STEVEN

Hey, wait!

The Cable Guy turns back.

CABLE GUY

Well, look who decided to show up. I was just gonna go collect my retirement pension.

The Cable Guy wears a clean white jump suit, and is extremely confident despite the fact that he speaks with a slight lisp. This lisp gives him a child-like quality.

STEVEN

You were supposed to be here four hours ago.

CABLE GUY

Was I? So I'm the tardy one. Good to know.

STEVEN

Yes. I had to go to the Bed 'n Bath place, but now it's closed. CABLE GUY

(turns to leave) Maybe I shouldn't have come at all � jerk off! (turns back smiling) I'm just joking. Let's do this. (looks around) Oh, the old McNair place. I never thought they'd get the floors clean after what happened here.

STEVEN

What happened?

CABLE GUY

(long beat) They had a lot of cats.

They walk into Steven's living room.

CABLE GUY

Hey, this could be a cool pad. Here is a comment card.

He pulls out a card, and hands it to Steven without turning back to look at him.

CABLE GUY

Please mail it in when I am done.

STEVEN

These go to your boss?

CABLE GUY

No, they go to me. I'm a perfectioniss� perfectioniss� (he strains to lose his lisp) perfectioniss�t. Now let's take a look at what we're dealing with.

The Cable Guy walks around the room with his hands out, sensing the space.

CABLE GUY

Come on baby. Come on baby. Talk to me baby. Tell me where you like it. That's it baby.

He zones in on one wall. He fells the wall in a sensuous manner.

CABLE GUY

Here's your sweet spot.

He pulls out his drill, and begins drilling.

CABLE GUY

So your lady kicked you out.

STEVEN

What?

CABLE GUY

In preparing your service I noticed you were previously wired across town at 1268 and a half Chestnut. Last week the billing was transferred to one Robin Harris. Smells like heartbreak to me.

STEVEN

I really don't want to talk about it with you. Could you please just install my cable? I'm going to get dressed.

CABLE GUY

No sweat.

Steven walks away, into the hallway. A moment later the Cable Guy runs to him.

CABLE GUY

Hey, I'm going to go to the hallway so I can access the floorboards. Don't be spooked if you hear someone crawling underneath you.

STEVEN

Okay, whatever.

Steven walks toward his bedroom.

CABLE GUY

Put on your bathing suit 'cause you'll be channel surfing in no time.

The Cable Guy pulls the trigger on his drill twice to punctuate his joke.

13 INT. - STEVEN'S LIVING ROOM - LATER

CLOSE UP - THE TELEVISION

RIKKI KLIEMAN from COURT TV broadcasts from their studio.

RIKKI KLIEMAN

(to camera) So ends day fifty-four of the trial of former child star Sam Sweet who has been accused of shooting his twin brother, Stan, in cold blood. The twins were stars of the hit sitcom "Double Trouble" which aired from nineteen seventy-seven till nineteen eighty-four.

A video package rolls in - We see several photographs of Sam Sweet and his twin brother at various ages. Included is the cast photo of "Double Trouble." Pictured in the photo are eight-year- old Stan and Sam and Conrad Janis as their single dad.

We see a brief clip from "Double Trouble," starring the two eight-year-old boys, then a shot of Sam Sweet being taken out of a police car in handcuffs.

RIKKI KLIEMAN

(to camera) Life wasn't so sweet after the cancellation of their program. Hollywood chewed them up and spit them out. A frustrated Sam turned to petty larceny, while his more impressionable brother, Stan, fell in with a fringe cult called "The Brotherhood of Friends." Reduced to tabloid fodder a fury was growing inside of Sam. A burning need to be recognized as an individual, not a person famous for having an identical twin. A need that took the form of four shotgun blasts on the night of November fourteenth. And so today his attorneys continue the unusual defense of "Twin Envy."

ANGLE ON

Steven re-enters the room. The Cable Guy is watching television.

STEVEN

How's it going?

The Cable Guy holds up one finger as if to say "quiet." His eyes never leave the TV.

CABLE GUY

Guilty, guilty, guilt-freakin-tee. I hope they fry this bastard.

Steven sees that the Cable Guy has completely redecorated the room in a fashion which makes the room impractical for anything other than watching television. The TV is now on the stairs blocking the entrance into the living room. All furniture faces the TV, making conversation impossible.

STEVEN

(looks around) What happened?

CABLE GUY

(jumps to his feet) The arrangement of your major appliances and your furniture was causing some noisy pics and hum bars in your reception. I moved a few things. Cleared it right up. Is that cool?

STEVEN

(non-confrontational) I� guess so.

CABLE GUY

You programmed? (off of Steven's look) Then let me slave your remotes.

He picks up Steven's remotes, punches in a complicated series of commands, then points them at each other. As he holds them together he makes a face as if their power is surging through him.

CABLE GUY

Ooh, maybe we should leave these two alone.

STEVEN

So after this I'll only need one remote for everything?

CABLE GUY

You know you're pretty good at this. You could be a cable guy yourself. (he finishes) Now let me check your levels.

With amazing alacrity he adjusts color setting, sound controls, closed captioned, etc. Then he clicks through the channels. A music video, documentary on Hitler, Oprah Winfrey Show, starving kids, Barney, court TV. The Cable Guy watches emotionless.

CABLE GUY

All right. That about does it. I just have some paperwork for you to fill out. Sign here.

Steven does.

CABLE GUY

That gave me power of attorney over you. (beat) Joking.

Steven laughs. The Cable Guy joins him, but then continues to laugh way too hard for way too long. As the laugh ends it quickly turns into an awkward moment. The Cable Guy does not want to leave.

CABLE GUY

I'm about finished here. (beat) Okay. I feel good about this.

Cable Guy walks to the door.

STEVEN

One thing.

CABLE GUY

(turns back immediately) Yeah!

STEVEN

I� uh� I have this friend and he said he gave his cable guy fifty bucks and he got free movie channels. Have you ever heard of anything like that?

CABLE GUY

(deadly serious) You mean illegal cable?

STEVEN

Uh� yes.

CABLE GUY

Who told you that? I want his name.

STEVEN

Forget it.

CABLE GUY

You're offering me a bribe? What you have just done is illegal, and in this state if convicted, you could be fined five-thousand dollars or spend six months in a correctional facility.

STEVEN

Please� that was dumb. I was just making conversation �

CABLE GUY

(laughs) I'm just jerking your chain. Wake up little snoozy. I'll juice you up. All it is is a push of a button.

He puts his arm around Steven and walks him toward the front door.

STEVEN

Oh, great. How much?

CABLE GUY

Don't worry about it. I couldn't charge you. Your girl just booted you. Consider it one guy doing another guy a solid.

STEVEN

That is so nice.

CABLE GUY

Hey, you're a 'nice' guy. You'd be surprised how many customers treat you like shit, like I'm a god damn plumber or something. (hands him a card) Here is my personal beeper number. It's just for my preferred customers. Never call the company, they'll just put you on hold.

STEVEN

Thanks. Really. (holds up comment card - jokes) You're gonna get some good marks here.

CABLE GUY

Maybe some day I'll take you out to the satellite and show you how all this stuff works. It's really incredible.

STEVEN

Sure. We should do that one day.

CABLE GUY

How 'bout tomorrow?

STEVEN

Tomorrow? Tomorrow's not good.

CABLE GUY

What are you going to do, sit home and stew about your ex?

STEVEN

No.

CABLE GUY

(insulted) Oh, okay. I guess I crossed the line. Sorry.

STEVEN

(guilty) You didn't cross the line.

CABLE GUY

No? Cool. I'll pick you up at six-thirty. On the flip side.

The Cable Guy leaves before Steven can reconsider. Steven cannot believe he just got roped into that.

(End Revision - Pink)

14 INT. CITYWIDE LAND DEVELOPERS - CONFERENCE ROOM - DAY

Steven is in the middle of a presentation to his co-workers. His boss, HAL DANIELS, looks impressed.

Steven pulls a sheet off of an architect's model of a condominium complex.

STEVEN

�There are twenty-four classrooms; each can be converted into a 1400 square foot home. The facility has two tennis courts, an Olympic size pool and full gym, with a stage if the residents decide they want to perform "Oklahoma."